Monday, August 17, 2015

I know minimalism is all the rage right now, but there's something in me that always craves a little flash and sparkle. Add to that the countless J.Crew catalogs I've poured over and you'll get my idea for this baseball tee project. It doesn't even need to be a baseball tee for this to work. Any shirt or sweater will do.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

I've never been particularly classy (though I DO try). No, I get too sidetracked; too enamored with the latest variations of the classics to do those classic gamine styles justice. Several years ago, I read Parisian Chic: A Style Guide by Ines de la Fressange, the super-guide to looking clean and neat like a classy Parisian. While reading, I discovered what I already knew--my biggest hangup with gamine style is that I get bored. I want color, bling, razz-ma-tazz! Which can sometimes look JUST TOO MUCH.

And yet, I go there.

Le sigh....

It will have to be enough that I feel clean and neat (if not completely Parisian) when wearing the occasional breton stripe.

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Friday, August 7, 2015

This dress was an experiment in gathers and flow. I attached the skirt portion to two different bodices and took them apart before settling on this simple one. I wanted to create a summer dress with a bodice that didn't compete with the amazing coral netting. This skirt fabric has the softest feel you can imagine. No stiff tulle here. It's all feathers and whispers completely in balance with the soft cream lace. The DIY bridal jewel hair comb tutorial is posted here.

I've decided to start selling some of my older design samples, because a girl can only wear so many dresses and I create so many in a year that it seems a shame for the beauties to die a slow, unloved death in my closet. I will be sharing news of the sales on my Instagram account @thekristinajblog. Follow along over there if you want the most current updates on which dresses and DIY projects are being listed.

Thursday, August 6, 2015

I've always wanted to travel to Havana. Not likely to happen any time soon, but still,a girl can dream. Which is exactly what I do. I'm the girl who get Foder's travel books from the library and plans complete trips to wherever in the world I happen to be dreaming about. Current obsession...old town Havana. Wearing a hat puts me in the mood and is as close as I'm gonna get to strolling El Paseo de Marti.

Yep, my Panama hat does that for me, Ironically, the hat has nothing to do with Havana, but what even. I never said it made sense.